3

                                    

                                          
The SUV eventually reached the end of my street and turned to head away from town. Still, I stared out the window, watching the blur of golden leaves whizz past me until I no longer recognised my surroundings. I took a long, shaky breath and then turned to see Logans dark eyes fixated on me, sending goosebumps across my skin. I shifted uncomfortably in the seat, feeling the coldness from his gaze.
"What?" I finally snapped at him, uncomfortable under his stare.
His expression remained frozen as he replied, his eyes still glued to me. "We will have to fix that attitude of yours," he spoke with authority and power, a dangerous edge to his tone.
I scoffed slightly, lowering my gaze so I couldn't see him. "Unlikely."
"Don't worry." His voice sliced through the air like a blade. "I have very effective methods; I am sure that you will quickly learn to behave."
My head shot up to see his usual rock-hard expression, giving absolutely nothing away. "Is that a threat?" I asked, raising my eyebrows and clenching my fists.
"It's the truth."
I let out a small scoff and a grumble before pulling my phone out of my pocket to text Ashley and avoid any further conversation. "I'll be taking that," Logan spoke, whipping my phone out of my hands and into his pocket in one swift movement. 
My eyes widened. "What am I supposed to do without my phone?" I asked, frowning when he simply shrugged his shoulders. "Well can I at least call my sister?" 
His eyes met mine. "No." 
With a huff, I leant back against the seat and folded my arms over my chest. "Let's go over the rules, shall we?" I heard him say but kept my gaze fixed on the window beside me.
"Number one," he began despite my silence, "look at me when I speak to you," he demanded. 
Ever so slowly, I turned my head to see his permanent expression of indifference and pasted a sarcastic smile onto my face. "Better?" I questioned and while his expression didn't change, his eyes darkened even more if possible.
"Number two." His voice boomed a little harsher than before and I knew I had gotten under his skin. "I demand respect." 
I narrowed my eyes at him. "I respect people when they earn it," I told him.
"Well, I suggest you show me respect or you will face the consequences." Threat dripped from his harsh tone and my stomach sank as I remembered who I was answering back to.
Theman in front of me was legendary throughout the mafia world. He had climbedthrough the ranks quicker than anyone and now sat on his throne, ruling overthe biggest mafia in the world. He had killed thousands without even batting an eye. He was a ruthless and merciless leader, brutally murdering anyone who stood in his way or crossed him. He had no reason to keep me alive if I angered him.
"I understand." I muttered.
"Good." A smirk crossed his face at my submission and I felt my pride and dignity slip away. "Number three, you are now my property-." My head shot up to meet his challenging gaze and I opened my mouth to speak before quickly clamping it shut again.
My fists clenched at the word and anger boiled inside me as it spilled from his lips like it meant nothing. Like I meant nothing. "Something to say?" He raised an eyebrow questioningly at me, a hint of a dare in his eyes.
"No," I snapped and resealed my lips before I told him exactly where he could shove his property. 
"Good." He smirked before his face set in his stone hard expression that gave nothing away. "You are now my property so you do whatever I say, whenever I say it. Understood?" 
I clenched my jaw, grinding my teeth to stop me from blurting out what exactly I understood. "When I ask you something, you answer," he told me and I had to take a long, shaky breath.
"I understand," I spat, digging my nails into my palms, desperate to restrain myself at least for now. 
"Good, number four is that you don't try to leave. Not only will you be caught and punished, but I will kill that family of yours immediately, making your sisters death particularly slow and painful." 
"Don't threaten my sister!" I snapped, unable to hold back my temper any longer. 
I expected him to yell back or at least show some anger, however he looked rather amused and smug, as though he wanted me to lash out. "What did I say about respect?" 
"Don't ever threaten my sister, sir." I growled. "Respectful enough?" Sarcasm and anger dripped from my tone. 
He eyed me for a moment before he reached over and grabbing my chin in his hand. His vice like grip was tight around my chin and he squeezed violently, making me wince at the pain. He leant forward, extremely slowly, crushing the bones in my jaw. Tears brimmed my eyes at the pain but his grip only tightened as his lips neared my ear.
"Don't ever raise your voice to me again." His voice was dangerously low, dripping with the threat of pain and torment. 
Suddenly, he moved away, dropping my face and leaning back in his seat with the usual expressionless look on his face. I narrowed my eyes at him for a second before his intense gaze overwhelmed me and I darted my eyes to look out the window again. 
"Are there any more rules?" I asked, eyes locked on the scenery flying past the window.
"It seems you already forgot the first one." I could hear the threat in his voice and racked my brain to remember the first rule. It suddenly sparked in my memory and I turned to face him. 
"Are there any more rules?" I repeated with an obviously false smile, keeping my gaze on him this time.
"I think those are all of them," he said as the car rolled to a stop. I looked back out the window to see a huge three-story mansion towering in the distance, a thick wall standing tall between the SUV and the house, protecting and defending it. We approached two huge gates set half way along the wall and they swung open instantly. The car pulled forward and behind us, the heavy gates slammed closed, trapping me inside the perimeter.
Up ahead, the driveway spanned out along the front of the house, steps sweeping up to large double doors. Either side of the elegant entrance, the building spread like wings of an eagle. The dark grey brick stood strong and powerful in the middle of the land, reminding me of Logan himself. Strong, dark, powerful and mysterious.
Not to mention beautiful. A small voice in my head reminded me, but I chose to push that further back and ignore it.
Instead of thinking about how true it was, I stared up at the enormous mansion, dread sinking into my stomach as we slowed to a halt. In a moment, men swarmed the car, opening the doors and ushering us out. Hesitantly, I stepped out of the SUV and was led towards my new home.